Chess Puzzle #1d5P9 — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 624 · Beginner · back rank mate, endgame, mate, mate in 2, short.

Position

White: king h1; queen a3; rook e1; knight g5; pawns f3/g2/h2. Black: king g7; queen d4; rook e8; bishop c6; pawns a5/c7/f5/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxe8 — rook e1→e8, captures rook. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qd1+ — queen d4→d1, gives check. Opponent replies Re1 (rook e8→e1).
  3. Best move: Qxe1# — queen d1→e1, captures rook, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

back rank mate, endgame, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Qxe1# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 4r3/2p3kp/2b3p1/p4pN1/3q4/Q4P2/6PP/4R2K w - - 2 33

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Puzzle data from the Lichess puzzle database (CC0). Analysis powered by Stockfish 18 in your browser.